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Selections by Neil Evans

The rail is out 3m from 1000m-300m then cutaway applies; remainder TRUE with the track rated a Good 4. The forecast is for a partly cloudy raceday and a top of 33 degrees.

Monday 3rd February – MUSWELLBROOK

2. DALE ($2.20 favourite on TAB) is a promising three-year-old who looks primed to take the next step after a dominant maiden win from off speed when heavily backed into a hot favorite. The way he's attacked the line in his last two puts him way on top getting back on a suitably bigger circuit. 1. Zahdi ($4.60) is still progressing and chased home a smart and dominant winner fourth-up. 3. Ta Set Nefaru ($8) can bounce back after failing to fire a shot at Dubbo. 6. Corpsman ($8) rubber-stamped some improving form by charging home to win a BM 58 should she back up in 4 days. 4. Zippo Idea ($5) will find this easier than a Class 3 Highway where she did it tough from a wide draw at the tail.

9. PLAY MY SONG ($3.30 fav) is an underrated mare well placed to peak third-up with a pivotal 3kg claim. Didn't finish off when resuming here, but attacked the line much better in a superior Class 3 at Tamworth 11 days ago. 3. Gogmagog ($4.60) is well up to winning this after just missing in a handy Class 1 here on heavy ground. 5. Toyger ($4.40) has often let punters down,l with 11 placings and only one win from 20 starts. That said, this is his best trip and has enough tactical speed to off-set a tricky draw. 4. Sir Freddie ($9) improves sharply getting on to a bigger track second-up.

4. ZUCCHERO ($1.50 fav) is naturally a big market watch, resuming for the new leading country stable off a near year-long break. Has been given two improving trials and this is a very weak race. 1. Steel Claws ($16) held his ground okay first-up and is better off back on a bigger course. 6. Clan D'oro ($11) has placed in three of her last four and can again run into the minor money.

3. TOUCH OF NAVY ($4) is a sparingly raced and still progressing five-year-old returning for her first run since early spring. Was very consistent last prep, winning twice up to this level in the Dubbo Cup Preview before again twice in the placings. Finished off when out of his depth in a strong BM 86 Dubbo Cup. Has a smart fresh record, likes this circuit and gets in well at the weights after a 3kg claim. 4. Contributingfactor ($10) reloads off a 44-day break from the inside draw, with an overdue drop back from deeper metro company 1. Strombus ($6.50) is suitably placed second-up, back from BM 72 metro company where he held his ground. 5. Aimpoint ($3.60 fav) resumes off a forward trial. 6. Feirme Prince ($4.20) second-up can add value into trifecta and first four plays.

7. ZOUKING ($4.20) is a provincial-based three-year-old on debut and the one to beat despite drawing wide. Liked the way he won a lead-up trial at Hawkesbury, cruising around from wide out, putting a gap on them and brushing through the line late. Has been in work for a long time and destined to win better arces than this. 11. Wedding Planner ($2.20 fav) is a big betting watch on debut for a metro stable from a sound trailing draw behind two forward trials. 1. Best Defence ($10) can run a race fresh, despite not officially trialling. Led for a long way over this trip before spelling and gear changes are in play. 14. Rare Moon ($5) resumes off a quiet trial, also with gear changes. 3. Nickers Boy ($51) has early speed and is a betting watch resuming off a long break. 6. Slam Dunk ($21) can run into a place resuming with blinkers added.

4. PRINCESS REGENT ($8) is another provincial three-year-old, by Snitzel, making her debut. Comes through a pair of 1200m handy form trials and with blinkers applied she can run this middle distance out strongly, despite drawing wide. 2. Devil Rider ($8) is a natural improver after doing little first-up at big odds in a much smarter maiden at Canterbury. 14. Sun Beauty ($13) will relish the drop back to this level after being thrashed in a city maiden from which the winner then bolted in again last Friday night. 12. Pathelia ($31) is an improver and heads the rest.

9. LITTLE BIT FLASH ($12) is a lightly raced mare who hasn't won for a while, but still over the odds resuming from a low draw. Wasn't far away in two runs last spring, the latter in a deeper field. Best form is early in the prep and the jockey booking is significant. 1. Invincible Whip ($4) is lightly raced and returns off a 24-week spell and two solid provincial trials. 6. Shubick ($21) improves sharply after a tough first-up run off a long break. 3. Gelsey ($7.50) gets back up to a more suitable trip fifth-up. 7. All Too Wild ($14) ran home well when resuming in a strong country Class 1. 2. Oenology ($3.10 fav) third-up and last provincial maiden winner 5. Hoo Haa ($13) both go through any exotics play.

BEST BETS
Race 2, No.9 - PLAY MY SONG ($3.30 favourite on TAB)
Race 3, No.4 - ZUCCHERO ($1.50 fav)

VALUE
Race 4, No.3 - TOUCH OF NAVY ($4)

View final fields with full form & race replays for Muswellbrook here